Australian Open prizemoney could double as Novak Djokovic urges push for more money

PLANS to double Australian Open prizemoney to $100 million have been reportedly revealed amid claims Novak Djokovic is urging fellow players to demand more cash.

Novak Djokovic trains ahead of the Australian Open.

PLANS to double Australian Open prizemoney to $100 million have been reportedly revealed amid claims Novak Djokovic is urging fellow players to demand more cash.

Six-time Open champion Djokovic, president of the ATP Tour player council, stunned officials by asking them to leave the annual player meeting at a city hotel on Friday night.

He then made a long speech urging players to form their own union to push for more money.

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The Serb’s speech followed a presentation to the player cohort by Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley, who outlined plans to boost Open prizemoney from $55 million to $100 million over the next five to six years.

The ATP Tour is a partnership between the players and the tournaments.

The four grand slams - Australian, French, Wimbledon and US Open - sit outside the ATP Tour structure.

Novak Djokovic speaks to tennis legend Andre Agassi.

Djokovic’s push for greater rewards surprised officials, and many players, on several fronts.

There have been significant prizemoney increases on the ATP World Tour, rising from $91 million in 2014 to $137 million this year.

More than 50 players last year earned over $1 million in prizemoney - up from 30 players four years ago.

And the ATP Tour player pension contributions have jumped 254 per cent since 2008.

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And the ATP has long been a collaboration between tournaments and players.

Djokovic, who plays his first-round match against American Donald Young, could not be contacted for comment.

But American Ryan Harrison, who said he had left the meeting before Djokovic’s speech, said he was in favour of a player union.

“I haven’t been involved in too many discussions, I’m not on the player board,” he said.

Novak Djokovic hold the Wimbledon trophy in 2015.

“What I can say is, as far as a union goes it would be good to have in the sense the people that represent us are also representing the tournament so it would be good to have someone with some form of representation that doesn’t have bias on the other side if that makes sense.

“Not that we ever go against the tournaments but if we’re arguing for more prizemoney or for scheduling, to be able to have a voice for ourselves makes sense.”

Harrison said there was a “big case to be made” regarding the distribution of revenue goes.

“In tennis we make really good money but at the same time from a professional athlete standpoint it’s not the way it could be compared to other athletes,” he said.

“You see an NBA player or NFL player, you think seven figures in their bank account.

“I don’t think that’s always the case for guys that even make the main draws of grand slams.

“That could be the case if the grand slams continue to make the moves that have started here in Australia.

“Craig Tiley has done an amazing job at being the most pro-player, he’s really set a standard and done a great job of that.

Ryan Harrison celebrates a point against Dudi Sela at the Australian Open.

“I don’t want to go too much into it, I don’t want things to get mixed around.

“My stance on it is we should have some sort of representation that maybe doesn’t have the other side.

Djokovic has made close to $140 million in prizemoney - and much more in endorsements - and believes players are still not being paid enough compared to other successful sports stars.

He is believed to have the support of several players, but not all.

A potential boycott of grand slams was seriously mooted in 2012, prompting the majors to boost prizemoney.